Apparatus for assisting roller-skaters



Patented Jan. 26, 1886..

G. JOHNSON.

APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING ROLLER SKATERS.

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OORNELIA JOHNSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR ASSISTIN'G ROLLER-=SKATE RS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,031, dated January 26, 1886.

Application filed August 31, 1885. Serial No. 175,865. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ()ORNELIA J oHNsoN, of the city of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new modeof preventing persons from falling while learningthe art of roller-skating; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference bebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention has relation to improvemenis in apparatus to prevent persons from falling during their first attempts to skate, and to aid or assist such persons in learning the art of roller-skating. These objects I accomplish by the devices shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are similar views ofa portion of a ceiling and track with the roller in position thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch,showiug its connection with the track; and Fig. 4C is a sectional view of the track, showing the position of one of the standards and a pulley to receive the switclroperating rope.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, O designates a portion of a ceiling,which has at suitable intervals vertical hangers B, terminating at their lower ends in short horizontal branches, c, which support a track that may extend around a room. At a suitable point in this track is arranged a switch, by means of which connection may be had with another track leading to a dressing-room or other apartment. The section of track adjacent to the switch is of spring metal, and in its normal position makes connection with the rink track or track which extends around the room, as more fully shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

I is a pulley which is arranged on a plane coincident with the horizontal branches of the handles supporting the track, and may be supported in such position by a bracket or the like having connection with the ceiling. Over this pulley passes a rope, J, one end of which is secured to the track adjacent to the switch, as at b, and the opposite end extends down within convenient reach of the switchman or other attendant.

\Vhen it is desirable to make connection with the track which leads to the dressingroom, it is only necessary for the attendant to pull down upon the vertical part of the rope J until the track A is brought over so as to have its end meet the adjacent end of the track 3, and be engaged and holditin such position until the skater has passed with thepulley or roller G. \Vhen the skater has passed and the attendant releases his grip from the rope, the spring-section ofthe track will return and engage the flange K of the track 5.

The roller G is designed to travel on the upper edge of the track, and is provided with a block or frame which partly encircles the said track, and is provided with guard-lugs 2, to prevent the said roller from falling from the track. The lower end, F, of this snatchlolock or pulley-block is provided with an eye for the attachment of a cord, H, the lower end of which is provided with a cross-bar or handle to be grasped by the skater.

The stop-flanges K K of the switch are eX- tended beyond the ends of the tracks 3 and 5, and are provided at opposite points with perforations or recesses to receive the stud E, secured to the spring-section of the track A.

From the foregoing descript-iomwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of the invention will be obvious.

. Having described this invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with an elevated track, of aswitch, a pulley, and an operating-rope, the end of track adjacent to the switch being formed of spring metal, and provided with lateral bearing pins at its outer end, the switch having guard-flanges provided with recesses to receive the said pins, the pulley arranged at one side of the track, and the rope connected at one end to the spring-track and passing over the pulley, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with an elevated track, 9

of the pulley G,arranged thereon, the pulley casing constructedas described and provided with the guards 2, and the rope H, connected to the said casing and provided at its lower end with a handle, substantially as specified.

I OORNELIA JOHNSON. W'itnesses:

FREDK. OBLANDER, J r. J OHN T. POOLE. 

